Portland OR 2018 Registration
is
NOW OPEN

FEELINGS
How do you feel when you look at the canvas and consider the process of painting? Is it possible for you to conceive of a way for that feeling to change and evolve? If so, how might you go about getting your feelings about the painting process to evolve ... anywhere from slightly to radically different?

INTUITION
Just like I would never hand over a sewing machine to someone who has never sewn and say "follow your intuition and just sew," I also think that guidance with paints and related materials are needed to get a person to feel comfortable with the painting process, before we engage our intuitions.

DAY 1
On the first day, I will demonstrate and teach numerous ways to help you manipulate and apply paint onto canvas so that you can build up layers, causing the canvas to transition from a "young" canvas to a "mature" canvas. The first part of this class will move quickly on purpose, to get you to stop over-thinking and simply try the methods out quickly, so that we don't develop emotional attachment to the marks prematurely, as we work with two canvases simultaneously.

Later in this first day, as we have started to digest the methods and as we potentially discover new ones together, we will rely more on our intuition as we each make decisions, solve problems, and wrestle with the resounding "what next?" when it comes to building layers on a canvas.

DAY 2
On the second day, we will embark on either leaving our canvases abstract or having them project a conceptual image. To do the latter, we will work on how to observe our canvases, and how to coax out concepts that the canvases may be projecting out to us through the marks that we have made. I will also demonstrate methods of how to deliberately place a concept onto the canvas, regardless of what the canvas might be saying. To leave a canvas abstract, I will demonstrate more fine-tuning methods that add polish and details that help an abstract work feel "done."

Both days, we will discuss many topics that will strengthen our fluency in the language of painting and art-making. We will discover the joy and power of expressing our unique perspectives through the wondrous world of painting.

SUPPLY LIST (each person should bring):
• 2 stretched canvases: 18 x 24 inches is a good size that can fit in large suitcases, or something close to that size. If you are local and you feel like going larger, like a 30 x 30, please feel free to do so.
• Acrylic paint in assorted colors. I favor Golden paints, both in Fluid Acrylics and Heavy Body acrylics. Make sure you include black, white, red, blue, and yellow. And throw in a few others that you just really love. (I also favor heavy body acrylics by Holbein.)
• Acrylic inks: my favorites are Golden High Flow acrylics. FW Artist Acrylic Inks are also good. Black and white are good ones to start with.
• Paint palette (no need for anything fancy. A cookie sheet or paper plates work great.)
• Paintbrushes in assorted sizes. (I like these. Filberts and flats for sure in several sizes.)
• Palate knife (or two or three): there are lots to choose from.This is a pretty good one that lots of people start out with. Pick one that feels right to you. Eventually, you'll probably want to get several but you'll learn to use the one you get during class.
• Baby wipes
• Sketchpad or journal and pencil that you can write in and do practice drawings in.
• Fineline Precision Applicators (gauge 20)
• Derwent Inktense Pencils (If you can get just one INK BLACK pencil, that's all you need.)
• Apron
• Plastic jug for water

I look forward to working with you as we move paint around in ways that help each of us strengthen our skills, our intuition, our problem-solving skills, and most importantly, our audacity to express each of our unique selves.

Most of the required supplies for your classes can be pre-ordered from Collage. They will be ready and waiting for you to pick up when you arrive at the retreat. For further info and to place your order, contact: